Critical pollinator and wildlife habitat is disappearing — Syngenta and its partners want to not just save what’s left, they also want to regrow it.
Amid the wide array of biotechnology efforts and sustainability initiatives that have helped to make Syngenta a global leader in agriculture, one of the key aspects of the company that staffers zeroed in on at the recent National Farm Machinery Show was Operation Pollinator. The program’s goal is to nurture biodiversity and to help restore pollinators in agricultural, golf, and other landscapes by creating essential wildflower habitats.
Seed mixtures for different regions and countries are customized to the specific areas, so as to be most effective. A sample mix of wildflowers given out at the Farm Machinery Show in Kentucky included plains coreopsis, cornflower, California poppy, lacy phacelia, and several others — all tailored with the specific intent of attracting bees and butterflies in the region. At the show, Syngenta had a detailed display highlighting the potential of the pollinator program, with the hope of encouraging more farmers to come on board and help the sustainability cause. Why join in? Because it’s an adaptable and scalable program, customizable to the availability of an individual’s land, while getting the most per acre out of it.
Operation Pollinator as a whole isn’t new; it’s roots date back about 15 years, and the program has been in full swing for some time. Syngenta provides agronomic expertise and others resources, while complementing contributions for collaborating groups such as The Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund, Delta F.A.R.M., and R.D. Offutt Company.
Here’s what Syngenta and its partners are bringing to the table:
- A custom seed mixture for your farm
- Cost-effective plantings
- The ability to manage weed competition
- Non-governmental enrollment
- Opportunity for beekeepers and farmers to work together to improve forage.
Operation Pollinator has not only helped restore vital populations of pollinating insects, but with careful site planning and management it can significantly reduce soil erosion and help protect valuable water resources from soil and nutrient pollution. The benefits for farmers are numerous.
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